Do you ever wonder how to let someone know you are praying for them or with them? I certainly do.
And God provided a helpful example, this time through one of the great women in my life: my oldest sister.
I’m deeply grateful that God has given me sisters who love me and my wife and my children with the deepest of affections and respect. And both of them are unashamed to take the needs of their nephew to their networks of friends and prayers.
One of those precious people emailed my sister with this encouragement, which my sister forwarded to Dianne, and which I present with permission from the writer to you:
Dear Arlene,
So sorry to hear about Paulie’s ongoing diagnostic dilemma. Only the Lord can sustain them and Paulie through this period of trial and suffering. The bi-monthly devotional I am using now has the theme “soaring above the storm” and it really is daily devotionals on the “theology of adversity”.
Today’s topic was on the power of God – in a nutshell, Is God powerful (enough to prevent suffering) or if He is powerful, then is He good enough (to prevent suffering)? The Scripture strongly tells us that He is powerful (sovereign, omnipotent) and He is good (grace, mercy and love embodied) yet He still allows suffering and adversity ….so the question is how do we, and can we, keep our perspective straight, especially with someone as innocent and special as Paulie.
I think we can, and I know that John and Dianne and all of you can because we affirm what St. Paul says in 2 Cor. 4: 7-18.
Isaiah 40: 31 and
Will remember Paulie, John and Dianne in my prayers for grace abounding to endure and in God’s mercy for deliverance and healing to be provided.
Much love, R
What are the elements I found so encouraging?
- Acknowledgement of pain and suffering
- Confidence that God will sustain
- Scripture on the nature and character of God that demonstrates he is both powerful and good
- Persistence in prayer
It isn’t flowery or fancy – it wasn’t even written to us! – but it went straight to my heart as encouragement directly from God through this dear saint.
Is there someone you could email today, for their encouragement, making much of God as you trust him for the words you will send?
You might make them cry, like this email did for both Dianne and me, with tears of sorrow at continuing suffering mingled with joy at the goodness and kindness of God.
The Works of God 
Thank you for sharing this, I had lumpectomy surgery last week and can attest to the outpouring of encouragement like the one you received. Yes, we are always rejoicing.